Car enthusiasts will get the opportunity to experience Ferrari’s legendary track performance in a street legal vehicle. The new limited edition Ferrari F12tdf is a...

Car enthusiasts will get the opportunity to experience Ferrari’s legendary track performance in a street legal vehicle. The new limited edition Ferrari F12tdf is a road car that pays homage to the Tour de France, the legendary endurance road race that Ferrari dominated in the 1950s and ‘60s.

Ferrari’s engineers sought to create an agile and powerful car that could be driven by drivers who aren’t experts. They drew on the wealth of experience built up in the XX programs which are dedicated to developing high performance cars driven by non-professional drivers. To enable car lovers to make full use of the performance, Ferrari developed its new Virtual Short Wheelbase system.

Using model-based control logic developed entirely in-house by Ferrari, the rear axle steering automatically adjusts the rear wheels, working out the optimal steering angle as a function of the steering wheel angle, speed of steering inputs and vehicle speed. The Virtual Short Wheelbase improves the car’s responsiveness to make it feel more agile, with instantaneous turn-in that can be best appreciated on twisty roads and on more technically challenging tracks while, at the same time, improving stability at high speeds.

The design of the Ferrari F12tdf also works in the driver’s favor. The bodywork panels, chiseled nose, and wider front and rear tracks evoke feelings of speed and power, and help to stabilize the vehicle. A radical redesign of the bodywork, interior, engine, transmission and running gear, along with the abundant use of carbon-fibre inside and out, has slashed 110 kg off the car’s overall weight. The Ferrari F12tdf’s performance is assured by the 780 cv, naturally-aspirated V12 derived directly from the F12berlinetta’s multi-award-winning engine. All of these factors combine to produce record performance figures: 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 7.9 seconds in addition to a substantial boost in lateral acceleration. Outstanding stopping distances are guaranteed by the adoption of the new Extreme Design one-piece brake callipers already seen on the LaFerrari. This new-generation system means the car can brake from 100-0 km/h in just 30.5 meters and from 200-0 in 121 meters.

Ferrari’s designers decided to go for a Spartan cockpit in the F12tdf. The wrap-around effect that embraces the driving position is intensified by the use of carbon-fiber housings for the instruments and satellite pods. The door panels have been pared back to a single carbon-fiber shell, while the glove compartment has disappeared to be replaced by simple knee padding. Alcantara rather the traditional leather was chosen for the cabin trim, technical fabric for the seats, and patterned aluminum instead of mats for the floor.

The Ferrari F12tdf is the ultimate expression of an extreme road car that is equally at home on the track. If this is the type of car you’ve always dreamed of, you’d better hurry and place your order. Only 799 will be built.

Frederick J. Goodall Editor-in-Chief

Frederick J. Goodall is the Editor-in-Chief of Mocha Man Style, media spokesperson, event host, photographer, and a top social media influencer in Houston, TX. He enjoys traveling, listening to live bands, and spending time with his kids.